Vice Admiral Fabricante named PCG OIC as Commandant Admiral Laroya retires

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Transportation Secretary Art Tugade has appointed Vice Admiral Eduardo D. Fabricante as Officer-In-Charge of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with the retirement of Commandant Admiral Leopoldo V. Laroya as the 28th PCG Commandant.Secretary Tugade announced the appointment during the Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony today, 10 February 2022.

Vice Admiral Fabricante is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1989 and served as Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations before his appointment as the PCG OIC.

Secretary Tugade commended Commandant Laroya for his over 38 years of public and government service. He added that under Laroya’s leadership, the men and women of the PCG have united in the service of the country and of the Filipino people amid the COVID-19 pandemic and calamities.

“Commandant Laroya please accept the gratitude, the sincerest gratitude of a grateful nation. Nagpapasalamat ang bansa at mga tao pagkat ang iyong serbisyo ay nag-contribute nang malaki sa pagkakaroon ng isang matatag na bayan. ‘Pagkat ang serbisyo na iyon ay isang naging malaking kadahilanan kung bakit ‘yung Philippine Coast Guard ay narating ang kanyang narating nitong mga nakaraang taon,” Secretary Tugade said.

During his speech, Secretary Tugade recognized PCG's sustained COVID-19 response, supporting the whole-of-government efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Among these initiatives include the assistance of PCG personnel in the daily operations of the One-Stop-Shops (OSS) at airport terminals.

Secretary Tugade also commended the PCG’s calamity response operations, particularly at the height of Typhoon Odette’s onslaught. The PCG not only rendered assistance to affected residents, it also conducted search, rescue, and evacuation operations.

Meanwhile, Secretary Tugade also recognized the efforts of Admiral Laroya in furthering the modernization of the PCG as he continued with the expansion of the Coast Guard's workforce, including the PCG Auxiliary.

“Ang Philippine Coast Guard ngayon, na kung saan ang kabuuan ay nasa 21,000 na kumpara noong 2016 – kung saan nagsimula ang termino ng Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte – na 7,000 lang po. Ngayon makikita mo ang Coast Guard hindi lang sa baybayin o karagatan. Makikita n’yo ang Philippine Coast Guard sa bawat sulok of the archipelagic nation of the Republic, sa bawat bagyo at unos, pati na ‘ho sa airport, pati sa kalsada makikita mo ‘yung Philippine Coast Guard,” Secretary Tugade added.

In his valedictory address, Admiral Laroya took pride in serving the country, saying: “I now bow out of service with pride in knowing that I have served my country well.”

The retired PCG Commandant then expressed his gratitude to Secretary Tugade for his support to the PCG.

“We owe it to you for what is the Philippine Coast Guard right now. Secretary Tugade, Sir, it is just befitting that you will be remembered as the ‘Father of the Philippine Coast Guard.’ You made all of these happen and we are truly grateful for the support that you have provided for the development of the Philippine Coast Guard,” Admiral Laroya remarked.

La Germania Spills Small Food Businesses’ Secrets to Success

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These small food businesses share their biggest advice for surviving and thriving in the pandemic.

For the past two years, Filipinos have seen the rise of home based food businesses.

From sweet pastries to hearty dishes, comfort food to artisanal beverages, numerous Filipinos have ventured into the world of entrepreneurship. But what does it take for a food business to succeed amid a global pandemic?

To inspire more Filipinos to build their food businesses, La Germania is launching a video project called Food Babies. Starting this February, La Germania will be releasing special features on food businesses that survived and thrived amid all the challenges thrown their way. This video project will be exclusively available on their Youtube channel and Facebook page. As a preview of the upcoming project, these food businesses spilled some of their secrets to success with La Germania.

Use social media to stand out against competition

Claudia’s (@claudias.ph) is a passion project turned popular online bakeshop that offers chunky and gooey baked cookies and blondies. According to Founder and Owner, Claudia Tagle, business owners must focus on their social media content to stand out against competitors, especially since customers “eat with their eyes”.

“It’s important for you to get those really good shots of your food or the products that you’re selling,” Tagle explained, which involves investing in food photography and social media content. “I do have slower days or slower months, and I think that consistency is key. You just need to learn how to market or promote your products more because your loyal customers will come back.”

She also shared how valuable it is to engage and build relationships with one’s customers. “What really keeps me going is my customer’s feedback, and when they tell me they really enjoy the cookies or the blondies. Getting feedback about what they like and don’t like about your products can help you improve further.”

Believe in your product

Butterboy Bakehouse (@butterboyph) focuses on different kinds of croissants and baked goods to make pastries more affordable and accessible for everyday Filipinos.

Head baker and owner Hilder Demeterio credits his businesses’ wins to two key ingredients. “You should seek knowledge from everywhere, like YouTube videos or classes.

You should just try to absorb whatever you can,” he said.

Growing up, Hilder was always a lover of food from a distance. It wasn’t until 2018 that he finally began to experiment with baking after meeting his boyfriend, Jason. An architect by profession, Hilder took lessons from his relatives and sought knowledge online, beating the misconception that you need to be a professional cook to start a successful food business.

Moreover, he believes that it’s important for aspiring foodpreneurs to believe in their

products as if they’re the brand’s number one fan. “In the middle of the pandemic, I was 6

months unemployed. I borrowed money from my parents, and I emptied pretty much all of my

savings. Pati sa boyfriend ko. So during that time, I took a leap of faith and I bought all my own

equipment, tapos ayun, we jumped into the unknown with only the knowledge na ‘I think we

have something good here’.”

To aspiring foodpreneurs, it is your faith and confidence in the uniqueness of your

products that will help your business survive all the ups and downs of the current landscape!

Cook with passion

For restaurateurs Wendel and Portia Habaluyas, The Purple Wok (@thepurplewok) began as a way to support their loyal kitchen staff who were laid-off due to the pandemic.

“These people have been loyal to us for many years now, so it was very painful for us to see them feeling hopeless,” said Portia.

For the power couple behind The Purple Wok, it’s all about following your passion.

“The most fun part in running a food business is doing what I love to do. Our recipes were created out of passion. They were made out of love. We’ve perfected the recipes, and we do not compromise the quality of our food,” the couple told La Germania.

As for what advice they would give aspiring entrepreneurs, Wendel says: “Never create a recipe just for a business and just to create money. Especially nowadays, we noticed that Filipinos are willing to pay a premium or extra for good and quality food. If there’s one advice we can give to people who want to start a food business, it is for you to cook with passion and prepare your food with passion.”

These tidbits of wisdom are only some of the valuable lessons viewers can learn from the La Germania Food Babies series. While each featured business owner may have their specialty and recipe for success, what they all have in common is that the most important aspect to your brand’s success is investing in high quality kitchen equipment like La Germania!

Built according to the highest European standards in terms of construction and design, La Germania appliances allow you to prepare a multitude of dishes in an efficient and easy way. With guaranteed durability and superior quality, they’re a good investment for you to bring out your inner foodpreneur and climb the ladder to culinary success.

La Germania products are available online through La Germania’s official e-commerce website www.lagermaniaph.com and e-commerce platforms on Shopee and Lazada. You may follow the trusted kitchen and appliance brand's official Facebook and Instagram accounts for more information on La Germania and its products.

ABOUT LA GERMANIA

Italian-heritage brand La Germania has been the preferred kitchen companion of Filipino

homemakers for 53 years and counting. Its wide array of ovens, cooktops, and stoves is made of high-grade materials and designed to stand the test of time and extensive use. La Germania’s current line of products continues to serve the cooking needs and lifestyle of this generation and the next. To know more about La Germania and its products, visit www.lagermaniaph.com. The trusted kitchen partner of Filipinos also has its official stores on Shopee and Lazada.

4 Reasons why you should travel to France

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It should come as no surprise that France is the most popular tourist destination. With 89 million tourists each year, France is far ahead of Spain, which comes in second with 82 million visitors per year. With 78 million people, the United States takes third place. Despite a tough few years, these figures indicate that France is once again the world's top vacation destination.

Almost every traveler wishes to visit Paris. It is recognized as the world's most romantic city, and it is home to some of the world's most iconic attractions, which are usually included in travel publications, films, and other works of art. So, what is it about France that draws visitors from all over the world?

#1. Paris – The City of Light

The city of Paris is a big lure for international visitors, attracting more than 30 million each year, more than any other city in the world. The city's romantic image, gorgeous architecture, the Louver museum, the renowned Eiffel Tower, and the simple pleasure of sitting on a café terrace and watching the world go by are reasons to visit.

Paris is also the home of Ligue 1 giant's Paris Saint Germain, one of the world's biggest footballing sides currently employing players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar. Football lovers can get the latest news on PSG before they visit The Parc des Princes, the 48,000-seater stadium where PSG hosts its home matches.

Not to mention Disneyland, which is a must-see for international travelers. The theme park, located just east of the French capital, attracts over 15 million people each year, making it Europe's most popular tourist destination.

#2. Stunning Landscapes

France can compete with almost any other country on the earth when it comes to natural beauty. With the dazzling coasts of the French Riviera, the patchwork meadows of the Loire Valley, the snow-capped Alps, and centuries-old harbor towns of Normandy, France's scenery is as varied as it is beautiful. This is, of course, quite tempting to outdoor enthusiasts. Rather than having to choose between mountains and beaches, France has both, plus a lot more. This provides you more bang for your buck and enhances the pleasure of your stay.

#3. History everywhere

France is a country rich in history. France's history is carved onto every street corner, having witnessed numerous emperors and republics come and fall and some bloody uprisings. Visit the Loire Valley to view and explore various castles hidden behind immaculately groomed gardens. Visit the Dordogne region to experience an extraordinary copy of Lascaux's prehistoric cave paintings, or plan to see the Font-de-Gaume. Alternatively, spend a day or two at one of France's charming ancient towns and villages, such as Provins, south of Paris, or Bayeux, Normandy.

#4. The unmistakable French cuisine

Everyone acknowledges that French food is among the greatest on the planet. Did you know that each area of France has its unique specialty? As you journey around France, we're sure you'll discover delicacies you never knew existed. Dishes include confit de canard, rillettes, beef Bourguignon, and more. Prepare to enjoy plenty of fresh bread and spicy cheese, all washed down with a fine Bordeaux.